What advice would you give your 19 year old self?

Nurses General Nursing

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Im 19 years old and pretty much just thinking about the future and where I will end up in my career. I was wondering, what would YOU tell your 19 year old self back then? or if so, now? or later on?

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

Great thread! Unfortunately I was both head strong and immature so to the 19yo Jules:

*Wear your bikini 24/7 and have multiple pictures taken because you will not always be able to get out of speeding tickets with little more than a hair flip and snug tank top. PS If you think there are flaws now wait 30 years

*Boys in bands while broodingly hot and exciting are not statistically likely to be much more than a fun distraction for the short term

*Stop smoking for Pete's sake its smelly, bad for you and expensive

*Do not quit college, just because you can make way more money than the uncool bookworms graduating from school with their brand new degree. Slinging liquor isn't a long term solution. Although you are having an outrageous time right now you are wasting your brain and will have to work extraordinarily hard in later years to play catch up.

*Marry one of those uncool bookworms

*Go to vet or med school, duh

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

*Wear your bikini 24/7 and have multiple pictures taken because you will not always be able to get out of speeding tickets with little more than a hair flip and snug tank top. PS If you think there are flaws now wait 30 years

Lol yes!!!!!!!

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Do not marry the first man who asks you.

Corollary: You cannot 'fix' another human being. If you think you can, you're in for a loooong 40 years married to someone who doesn't care about you for anything other than the paycheck and home that you've managed to make.

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Specializes in Hospice.
Do not marry the first man who asks you.

Corollary: You cannot 'fix' another human being. If you think you can, you're in for a loooong 40 years married to someone who doesn't care about you for anything other than the paycheck and home that you've managed to make.

I've stayed in bad job situations longer than I should have because my husband was more concerned about that sweet paycheck I brought home than my physical and mental health.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Don't. Just...don't.

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Go back to school ASAP for the LPN to RN bridge. Don't buy that Impala car - it was not only a lemon, but ate too much of my paycheck up. SAVE YOUR MONEY!

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Dear former self,

Don't let that boy convince you not to go to nursing school. And don't move across the country for him. And also, you should have jumped ship the moment you realized how bat-**** crazy his family was.

Sincerely,

School before boys

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Pick up a book on personal finance and learn the basics. Avoid debt where possible and don't take more than you absolutely need for school loans.

Try to stay healthy. Get enough sleep, get some exercise. Have fun, in moderation. Use moderation in moderation. ;)

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Dear former self,

Don't let that boy convince you not to go to nursing school. And don't move across the country for him. And also, you should have jumped ship the moment you realized how bat-**** crazy his family was.

Sincerely,

School before boys

I could have written this, except for the part about moving. My BF gave me an ultimatum: Him or nursing school. I chose nursing school. Then right before we were getting capped (we were actually in the process of lining up) he called and asked me to take him back. I hung up on him. His Dad hated me anyway; no way will I marry someone who is not only a flake, but has a parent who hates me just because of my religion.

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I could have written this, except for the part about moving. My BF gave me an ultimatum: Him or nursing school. I chose nursing school. Then right before we were getting capped (we were actually in the process of lining up) he called and asked me to take him back. I hung up on him. His Dad hated me anyway; no way will I marry someone who is not only a flake, but has a parent who hates me just because of my religion.

You made the right choice. Sometimes it drives me nuts thinking about the fact that I could have been a nurse with a couple years experience by now if I'd been smarter.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Just curious Jade, why are tattoos an issue?

While I can't answer for Jade in my experience back in the olden days tattoos weren't as prevalent or accepted as they are today especially in the educated, professional realm. Personally I have always loved edgy, brooding dudes with long hair and tats but 30 years ago they were normally not the ones who made good long term prospects. Just saying.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
And also, you should have jumped ship the moment you realized how bat-**** crazy his family was.

Excellent advice and while not politically correct in this day and age I'd also advise all young folks to respect the power of genetics.

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